How To Find The Perfect Saddle Height On Your Bike

Рет қаралды 1,567,070

Күн бұрын

Finding the right saddle height on your road bike can be a tricky process. A fraction of a millimetre here or there can lead to discomfort and injury when you're cycling! Fortunately, Manon's got a few handy tips to help you find the right saddle height so you can sit comfortably every time you go for a ride!
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Пікірлер: 779

@gcn 3 жыл бұрын

Do you think you need to adjust your saddle height? Let us know in the comments below!

@OWjonah 3 жыл бұрын

Hi @GCN. A video request. What is the best way to clean your chain and cassette when the bike is being used on the turbo? Would love your advice!

@KaushikNSanji 3 жыл бұрын

@Bjorn Arnesen That's when the toe is placed on the pedal and not the heel. Heel to pedal lock technique results in the "slightly bent knee" when you ride with toe on pedal. Note that we should not ride with our heel on the pedal. You may consider re-watching that video, since in this video, the significance of using heel to pedal for saddle adjustment was not mentioned. Edit: By saying toes, I am actually referring to the balls of the feet, similar to like how we run.

@jasonmcgrody9472 3 жыл бұрын

I got a free fit at my local bike shop when I purchased my bike and they did a fine job.

@mortenlundshof4058 3 жыл бұрын

I think so...

@Duckers_ 3 жыл бұрын

Really useful, I've had height dialled in but never knew about the "hanging object" method for working out fore/aft and that confirmed what I thought - saddle could do with being moved forward, will see how it feels tomorrow out on the road!

@hansschmidt3144 3 жыл бұрын

my way to become athletic in 2021: - 1 % training - 99% watching gcn videos...

@chipbuttytime3396 3 жыл бұрын

you are training your mind 99% dont put yourself down lad

@jeffforbess6802 2 жыл бұрын

Tell everybody I’m on my way…

@trentonakelley 2 жыл бұрын

1% more.

@eddierodriguez885 2 жыл бұрын

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha THAT'S ME

@phuocvan117 2 жыл бұрын

Hahaha Me too But , I'm 30 % training , 35% video , 35% cafe .

@surfskiclimb4492 3 жыл бұрын

She is a great addition to the GCN team!

@betnguin 3 жыл бұрын

totally!

@manonrides 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you :)

@EMSM410 3 жыл бұрын

she already put on weight

@standandeliver8376 3 жыл бұрын

Ahmad Fariq, she looks fantastic. It's ignorant people like you that cause others to have body image problems.

@monkeybizniz2095 3 жыл бұрын

I love her lilting Welsh accent & her positive attitude. I could listen to her talk about paint drying 😍🤪

@PatrickBateman12420 17 күн бұрын

Wow, the "heel to paddle test" - you're a star!

@vongdong10 3 жыл бұрын

Oh man, can't stress enough how important the correct saddle height is. I thought I had it right but my knees were aching like crazy. Moved the seat up a few cm, no more knee pain and what's even better was that I rode more efficiently and that in turn lowered my times by about 4mins around a 19km course I ride.

@gcn 3 жыл бұрын

It makes all the difference!

@SamuelLudden Жыл бұрын

@@user-k-333 raise your bars

@SamuelLudden Жыл бұрын

@@user-k-333 arm extensions?

@MrHatt7777 Жыл бұрын

4 minutes! Insane

@andyjame6835 9 ай бұрын

I’m enjoying the bike so far kzfaq.infoUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA My only real complaints are the brakes and the pedals. I feel like a bike designed for bigger people should have much larger pedals and more heavy duty brakes. I’ve only gotten two really good rides out of it, minimal downhill action, and the brakes feel like they’re already going out. A larger person has more momentum, so I think this wasn’t thought through very well. Also, I wear size 13-14 wide shoes. My feet cramp up on these pedals that are clearly made for smaller feet. Since I’m not a pro rider (and I don’t think many are who purchase this bike) I don’t think that the straps on the pedal are necessary at all. None of this takes away from the enjoyment I get from riding, however. I’ll just head to a bike shop to improve on a few things.

@SpriteHide 9 ай бұрын

We tackled assembling the bike as a family project. kzfaq.infoUgkxzg0clhbtRf2gGxPkVETFKJJKGqdsorQu The package is heavy, but I have 2 teen boys that were able to move it. The written instructions were great- we didn't need to watch the videos, but it was good knowing that the option was there if we needed it. After we were able to get it set up, the boys each rode 3 miles and I rode 8 and the bike stayed quiet. The display is easy to reset, and you can put it on whichever setting you are using (time, distance, calories, etc). I will say that my butt is a little sore from the seat, but that could be because I haven't rode in a while. While it is comfortable for me, it was not comfortable with the seat position for my friend (could not move the seat back far enough and he slightly looked like a kid riding a tricycle that he had outgrown). He also said that the seat hurt his manly parts. We are going to look for a different seat that will be compatible with this bike for him.I did purchase the Wahoo Cadence sensor and strapped it to the crank of one of the pedals. This will sync with my Apple Watch, iPhone and will import data in to my Health app. Wahoo does have other sensors available other than cadence. I can also keep either my phone or my iPad on the display and they both feel pretty secure.

@johnnyp8051 3 жыл бұрын

This might have been the most concise simple cycling info I've ever watched in 15 years

@TheGospelOfGrapeAndGrain 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you GCN! I am new to Road Cycling. It took a while to find a biike that would work for me (6'3", 235# or 191cm, 107 kg). I found a 61cm Felt Z25 that fit me well. I rode it a few time in 2020 and didnt love it, so it sat unused. I decided to learn more about road cycling through your youtube channel and figured out the saddle and handle height, as well as saddle angle were all wrong. I got fitted locally and had everythign adjusted. In the last 2 months (after the fit) I have ridden almost 500 miles! Thanks for the education.

@MegaMoedollaz 2 жыл бұрын

So what was the final measurement you went with?

@richardb22 Жыл бұрын

Thanks this is the most straightforward vid I have watched today. And God knows I have watched a few. And I needed this info. Thanks for making this vid.

@MrRar66 2 жыл бұрын

Glad GCN covered this, AGAIN. 00:42 was new info, thanks for that.

@brianrainey2739 3 жыл бұрын

The heel on the pedal method with a slightly bent leg is a good starting point. After that just start marking your seatpost and move your seat height up or down in mm increments according to your personal preferences. Every one of us is different.

@cafetansiongph8885 2 жыл бұрын

Very well explained. Thank you for sharing this information.

@Distorted-Vision 3 жыл бұрын

It's videos like this that make me love GCN.

@danishrover6984 Жыл бұрын

Massive help to correct the saddle height, thanks 🙂 And the knee to crank arm worked like a charm.

@markmccarty1275 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Manon! Enjoy watching your videos. I forgot about the LeMond formula. I've heard mixed reviews on the plumb bob method but at least it get's you in the ballpark.

@eyevincast5440 3 жыл бұрын

Loved it completely changed the way I ride my bike and it feels right!

@ekieki77 3 жыл бұрын

Very good explaining (and simple) video. Great job!

@timyjoe5 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful and straightforward, thanks!

@Adventuregirl96 2 жыл бұрын

I have been riding casually for a few years now. I have recently started taking it seriously and this channel has been a big help.

@tomzverbo 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for great tips on this topic! My saddle height shocked me using Lemond method - my inseam multiplied by coefficient resulted on my current saddle height with accuracy on one millimetre! I am proud of my saddle height settings based on feeling :D You are definitely right :D

@deanswalling7871 5 ай бұрын

Great video, really helpful. Thank you

@RaysTrack 3 жыл бұрын

Great video - easy to understand and logical to follow.

@whiskeytangofoxtrot2324 2 жыл бұрын

This evidently helps a lot, it's not a minor thing. Posture is everything. Cycling should also look comfortable and proper. Thanks a lot Manon.

@JasLeGoff 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks. Perfect timing for get my new bike setup.

@markmcmanaman1282 Жыл бұрын

This was helpful, thank you.

@GrotrianSeiler Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Very thorough.

@shayalah 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful and simple, Thank you.

@millianopinto9877 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the advice 👍👍

@stuartfreedman6854 3 жыл бұрын

Great vid as usual. Manon has really found her stride. Now, how about something to show the best ways to equalize positions on more than one bike - winter bike and summer bike for example? Cheers

@sudhakarmushnam 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Perfect video for my cycle saddle height details. :)

@jeffdavis5841 3 жыл бұрын

You might also mention that if you adjust your saddle fore or aft that you should recheck / reset saddle height. Because most saddle mounting rails are on an angle, if you move the saddle forward it raises saddle height and moving it backwards lowers saddle height.

@ToThePointCT 2 жыл бұрын

The general opinion for years on end has always been that most people ride with a saddle too low and the dangerous misconception, which I fell for ,that pain in the front of the knee means the saddle is too low, pain behind the knee too high. I had pain in front of my knee, so put the saddle up. I still had pain in front of my knee, so I put the saddle up again. I continued with pain in front of my knee for 5 years so yet again put the saddle up until it was so high I developed Achilles tendonitis. Also the knee pain never resolved. After lots and lots of research and particularly reading " riding a saddle that is only slightly too high is far more problematic than a saddle that is very much too low", I decided to go in the opposite direction and I lowered my saddle by a whopping 2 cm. Knee pain eradicated.

@itsmark3824 3 жыл бұрын

That moment Mannon realised that was a Biro and not a pencil she just drew on the wall with.....

@manonrides 3 жыл бұрын

sssshhh!

@flippmogaming1 3 жыл бұрын

Biro de’italia 😂

@markchoate9021 2 жыл бұрын

Some great information on this subject. Thanks

@chobrima 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you , Ride safe always 😊

@mileslong9675 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! According to what you explain, my saddle was maybe one or two RCHs high. I made the adjustment, and will take it for a test ride.

@musabmazhar919 Жыл бұрын

Great explanation, thank you

@doggyman1202 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful! Thanks!

@siquq 3 жыл бұрын

Very useful, thank you.

@nihondragon 3 жыл бұрын

Mannon your bike looks awesome. I love Canyon bikes and have had an Endurance AL 8.0 disc since 2018 (yes I couldn't afford carbon frame at the time). It's been great and easy to maintain with no issues. It's little heavy on climbing but I've been forced to get stronger and feel safer on high speed decents. Thanks for the video. Have learned a bunch from GCN over the last few years. It's taken me about a year to get that perfect saddle position....hahaha

@anthonyduncalf6190 2 жыл бұрын

The heel on pedal method works for me .I used to just guess the saddle height and keep altering it until it felt right. After finding out about the heel on pedal method I noticed it wasn't far off where I have it , so I know this method is pretty accurate. I use the measurement from the centre of the pedal axle to the top of the saddle to set up any bike I buy in a few seconds now.

@alanyorwerth6684 3 жыл бұрын

thanks really helpful all your videos 👍

@Cubasenet33 8 ай бұрын

Useful, veruy useful, and very well explained. Thanks for the vid!

@matthewblue7839 3 жыл бұрын

Very good video, using sensible measurements based on someone’s body and bike set up. Also,wise to indicate this is a starting set up and that rider needs to be aware of how their body performs and reacts and to give it time to accommodate any changes: well done !

@martinromeo1006 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video and take care your self .

@trrttsch 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't know about the Lemond method and according to that I've always ridden with saddle about 2.5 cm too low. I hope that this will help me to get more use of the hamstrings and less problems with my knees. Thank you!

@fuadkurniawan3339 3 жыл бұрын

Best fit. I like it. Thank u

@markdenney4938 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this.

@starwilkinson8020 Жыл бұрын

Wonderful video, thank you.

@winstonramprashad866 4 ай бұрын

Awesome, thank you. ❤❤❤❤

@kenshinjenna 10 ай бұрын

Tysm for this video. I have been having knee pain after 20+ mile rides and felt I needed to adjust this. I had my bike squared away perfectly, but after accidentally taking on a single track ride without a dropper post, I messed up the position and needed to redo it. This video had clear directions that I hope will lead to less knee pain. I'll ride this one out and make note of all my current settings if it turns out correct. I'll post a follow-up to this comment with additional tanks if this gets me back to near perfection.

@ChristineEliza_ 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! This is the perfect video I needed!! 😃

@shafiqsangeen7382 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, educate cyclists good video.

@VeloNippon 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent explanation thank you!

@gcn 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers, Slavek!

@KingUry2-2-2 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks #GCN 💖...Cycling is never Fun without you

@uday8262 3 жыл бұрын

Great work ..well done ..

@b8la 3 жыл бұрын

loved it!! I've been looking for techniques like this for a long time!!! this is perfect!! do you have anything related to position on handlebars? thanks!!!

@luisen1996 3 жыл бұрын

It's important to note that saddle height will also impact the position of the knee in relationship with the pedal, so make sure to get the height right before messing with the front/aft. With my first road bike I thought I had setback issues and made a mess out of my saddle before realizing height was the problem. Great video!!

@rawspaghetti9185 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very helpful !

@AhmedSaad-be6hq 3 жыл бұрын

Perfect explanation

@macsnafu Жыл бұрын

Good video, because you covered all the way the seat can be adjusted, and not just the height.

@silverzhang9191 Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@TradersMBA 3 жыл бұрын

Great advice Manon 👍🏼

@salahkhalfallah1537 2 жыл бұрын

Well explained. Wish u the best

@carlislehartman7695 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you.

@jorenvandaele1301 3 жыл бұрын

I used the heel to pedal method with the bikeshop mechanic to determine the height, he said that when you're cycling and you feel a little knee pain it's too low and if your quadriceps are a little tingly/painful it's too high. Don't know if this is how a bike-fitter does it, but it does work very well for me

@ardenro Жыл бұрын

Excellent video Manon!

@josemarieteomale5791 3 жыл бұрын

Its helpfull thank you here for philippine Cyclist

@mannylagustan1606 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks to the tips.

@chornykot03 3 жыл бұрын

great video, it would be awesome if GCN did a few videos on bike setup, including saddle angle and bar distance

@hongodarongo 9 ай бұрын

This video was really helpful! I ended up adjusting my saddle 3cm up, moving it back and tilting it ever so slightly forward. Still trying it out but it feels a lot better.

@thepie4052 3 жыл бұрын

Great advice 👍

@Rottingboards 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks that helped a lot!! My seat was an inch two high and back to far. Now for some Zwift...

@vrooom666 3 жыл бұрын

Great tip!!!!!

@barryf1966 3 жыл бұрын

Good informative vid Manon 🥂

@angrypenguin956 3 жыл бұрын

Nice informative video. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with making bike ajustements yourself but I would strongly suggest having a professional bike fit. It's worth every penny. Also, don't be afraid to swap your saddle if you the one that comes with your bike doesn't suit you. I had to do it for both of my bike and this made a huge difference in confort.

@acesanders2877 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Very complete information and a well-built instructional video with the most illustratives b-rolls inserts. My compliments! And again, thank you very much for sharing such a well-structured informational video. Redmond (Red) Sanders Brown jr.

@rodbrown8306 2 жыл бұрын

Impressive tutorial.

@mohdt5392 3 жыл бұрын

Perfect tutorial

@theduelist5706 Жыл бұрын

This young lady is very thorough and sensible. I really like her bike too, cool colour combo.

@mortenlundshof4058 3 жыл бұрын

Great explanation 🤙🤙🤙

@markyoung5745 3 жыл бұрын

Very good useful video guys. 👍

@andrekresna2522 3 жыл бұрын

Helpful input 😍👍

@josephramos3232 3 жыл бұрын

Can’t believe GCN finally made a saddle height video!

@duncansandford9423 3 жыл бұрын

Simon did one on GCN about 5 years ago and it has 2.3M views! Not sure what this one adds...... apart from an attractive presenter!

@duncansandford9423 3 жыл бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fLylaL2j0NrRZGQ.html

@josephramos3232 3 жыл бұрын

@@duncansandford9423 It’s like the bike cleaning videos. We don’t need a new one every month! We want 1vs5.

@duncansandford9423 3 жыл бұрын

@@josephramos3232 I've not seen a definitive video on 'Reach' a much debated/ tweaked area for many and yet critical to real comfort-Is the saddle to handlebar measurement any value or do we all try and touch the bars with our nose, hands behind back???? (the early GCN version of this was not very conclusive- )Ollie?

@djdelarosa25 3 жыл бұрын

@octosquid1205 3 жыл бұрын

WHAT! I literally needed this and boom u guys posted! thank you so much!

@gcn 3 жыл бұрын

It's almost like we knew!

@ADCFproductions 3 жыл бұрын

next time use the search bar, they have like dozens of videos talking about this subject xD

@alfredsuhrbier4166 3 жыл бұрын

@@gcn My butt was cramped from cycling. An older woman hit me on my bottom till it was better. 🥵🥵 What do you think ??

@justinho3358 2 жыл бұрын

came to learn what the right saddle height is for me; liked the video for Manon..😉

@krishnansrinivasan830 Жыл бұрын

Awesome & Thanks :)

@saskaboh26 2 жыл бұрын

I was on bike fitting twice, but it wasn't good. I had severe pain in my lower back, inflamed ischiadic nerve, whole left leg in pain and very painful riding. So, I watched your video and tried to bike-fit myself. It turned out, I had to push saddle 1,5cm towards handlebar and 0,5cm higher, and had to extend the lenght or the reach of the handlebar. Now I ride with rally minimum pain, but this will probably be always present due to ischiadicus nerve inflammation. But I like it now, it is a real relief after painful rides. Thank you.

@derul880527 2 жыл бұрын

Very good information by the beautiful trainer😂thanks

@gurayoanriveraortiz5478 Жыл бұрын

Awsome video!

@tl2913 2 жыл бұрын

Well done!

@leehewitt9559 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one Mannon!

@Rushikeshjadhav88 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks❤️

@peterepoet2535 3 жыл бұрын

Great Video, in the late 70’s and early 80’s I had the pleasure of racing many times with Greg Lemon, Ian Jackson, Phill Anderson and many others. Just a few more tips. Using the center off the Bracket, be carful because Crank arm lengths differ. So it is better to use Saddled height to center axel of the Peddle at the BDC Bottom Dead Center or 6 O’Clock position and the Lemond Math of inseam. Last tip is always after more than a 3 week period of not riding, always lower your saddle 2.54 CM, because your tendons have shrunk some due to the layoff, then raise it about 1 cm each week or 1/2 CM every 4 days. This will help your Tendons and muscles acclimate. GOD Bless and have a Fantastic day. PS I loved my first bicycle with Index shifting on the Break levers on the fist issue of my Greg Lemond Zurich 2006. I raced with Greg many times when he was known at the Reno Rocket racing out of Reno Nevada. Back then you could earn no money if you wanted to race in the Olympics as you had to maintain an amateur status. LOL the good ole day.

@amit_1 2 жыл бұрын

thank you Sir. Thanks for your great advice.

@ada0015 2 жыл бұрын

can you explain the 6 o clock position? thank you

@bicyclist2 2 жыл бұрын

You forgot the "d" on Greg's last name.

@toddcote2710 2 жыл бұрын

Grew up in Reno when Greg was king! Back when Reno was Reno, the good old days! 8 dollar all day lift tickets at Mount Rose, 8 dollar concerts, 75 cent beers, ect....

@darrenn. 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the advice!

@kelvingitari 3 жыл бұрын

Manon does science. I love it

@keironcurtis9367 3 жыл бұрын

Very helpful

@bayambangpangasnian2279 3 жыл бұрын

You teach boss ....Thank you 🙂

@connorkelley6162 Жыл бұрын

I came to this video because I noticed my power meter was reading dramatically different efforts between pedal strokes. Adjusted my height and numbers are within a much more consistent range. Excited to see how this will affect my average power readings in the future!